Elderly West Tisbury man found floating off West Tisbury in Vineyard Sound

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Looking west from Tashmoo jetty Makonikey Point is in the distance. — Photo by Nelson Sigelman

Updated 12:20 pm, Tuesday

A man found floating in the water dead early Monday morning has been identified as an 86-year-old Martha’s Vineyard resident, a State Police spokesman said Tuesday.

Because official positive identification is still pending, State Police have not released his name.

“There is no indication of homicide,” State Police media spokesman Dave Procopio told The Times. “The investigation is ongoing as to whether the victim fell into the ocean accidentally or intentionally entered the water, and, if so, why.”

The elderly, white male was fully clothed and was carrying no identification, police said.

Just before 7 am on Monday morning, a Vineyard charter captain notified the Coast Guard that he had spotted a dead body in the water off Makonikey Point in Vineyard Sound about a half-mile northwest of the Tashmoo Pond opening.

The Coast Guard retrieved the body, which was brought to the office of the State Medical Examiner and State Police were notified.